by Park Saenal
It was dinner time. I had no appetite. I didn’t know if the rice entered my mouth or my nose.
My mother was worried about me and asked with a bemused expression. “Hey Youngwoo, did something bad happen? I worked on those braised short ribs for a long time, so why are you sucking on bone for five minutes?”
“A pathetic person like me isn’t qualified to eat meat…”
One and a half days had passed in reality, while 6 days passed in Satisfy. In the meantime, I made six swords and the result was three normal, one rare and two epic swords. Now I could make one more sword before the time limit was over, but I only had two epic rated items.
‘I’m ruined… Ruined…’
When investing 20 hours to create an item, the probability of making an epic item was close to one third. In other words, the possibility of my remaining sword being an epic item was very low.
My quest ‘Business with the Administrator’ would soon be destroyed.
‘I have a legendary class but I can’t even make an epic item… I am a truly pathetic person who doesn’t deserve food.’
The frustrated Sehee placed a braised rib on top of my rice bowl.
“What’s new? Oppa, haven’t you always been pathetic? Why do you need to look so weak now? I don’t know what type of adversity Oppa is going through these days, but the only good thing about you is that you don’t know how to give up. Right? When Oppa was in 6th grade in elementary school, you were able to memorize everyone from the 1st grade to 6th grade, so don’t be frustrated this time and be patient. Oppa will surely be able to overcome these difficulties.”
“S-Sehee… did you eat something bad?” I got goose bumps at the words that Sehee normally didn’t say and asked my mother, “Mother, maybe there’s something wrong with the braised ribs. Are these beef short ribs? Is this beef from cows with the mad cow disease?”
“These are pork ribs!”
Ppak!
Sehee picked up the piece of rib she gave me and threw it at me. The rib slid down the side of my face as I seriously wondered. Why was I being hit every time I sat down for a meal? Why was I being treated worse than a dog by my family members?
Chapter 61
Chapter 61
After the meal ended, I headed straight back to my room and entered the capsule to connect to Satisfy.
Khan greeted me, “Did you have a good night’s sleep? Are your worries relieved now?”
“Old Man Khan, I’ve decided to just drop everything.”
“Huh? Drop everything?”
“I will clear my mind and abandon my obsession. Anyway, the goods made with my poor skills aren’t worthy of being delivered to the castle. It is no use, no matter how hard I try.”
“No, what are you saying? How can Pagma’s Descendant say something so weak?”
Khan was truly angry. It might be acceptable for other blacksmiths, but it was unacceptable for someone as talented as me. I ignored him and stood in front of the furnace. Then I started on the seventh and last sword.
‘I won’t be obsessed with the result anymore.’
No matter how I tried, the result would be randomly decided anyway. Even though I knew this fact, I was still foolish enough to select the best materials and devote a lot of effort. I steadied my heart. Unlike before, I just worked silently without worrying about the result. I used my accumulated knowledge and experience to let my body flow while making the item.
The sword started to shine as dawn arrived. Morning was coming soon. I was entirely focused on the task and didn’t realize the time.
Then a notification window popped up.
[The deadline for the ‘Business with the Administrator (1)’ quest is in two hours. Please complete the quest within two hours.]
I would see a ‘quest failed!’ after two hours. It was like this notification window was mocking me. I entered the last stage of the sword production. After a while, the sword was completed.
[Sword of Self-transcendence]
Rating: Legendary
Durability: 365/365 Attack Power: 356 Attack Speed: +6% Accuracy: +10% Attack and Defense Rate: +10%
* Will do an additional +200 damage during each attack.
* The skill ‘Perfect State of Self-transcendence’ will be generated.
A sword made by a craftsman with great skill and potential but lacking in experience and reputation. He has abandoned all thoughts and desires while only concentrating on his skills.
The craftsman doesn’t realize it himself, but he has completed a sword that has never existed in this world before.
User Restriction: Level 160 or higher. More than 950 strength. Advanced Sword Mastery level 2 or higher.
Weight: 400
[An legendary rated item was produced, so all stats have permanently risen by +25 and reputation throughout the continent has risen by +1,000.
[The title ‘Only Legendary Item Maker’ has been acquired.]
The title I got when I made the unique dagger was the ‘First Unique Item Maker.’ But the title for the legendary item had the word ‘only’ compared to ‘first.’ The creation of a legendary item in Satisfy reminded me that I was the only Pagma’s Descendant.
“……”
I confirmed that Khan was squatting in a corner of the smithy. I had been angry at Khan every time I couldn’t make the desired item in the past week. Despite my cold treatment, he kept giving me advice and encouragement.
Khan must be feeling a great deal of sorrow. Look. How lonely did he look now? I must be a bad guy to Khan. He might be seriously questioning his decision to hand me this smithy.
I slowly went up to him. I rubbed his shoulders that were tense from the daily repetition of hard labor.
“Old Man Khan, I’m sorry for the past week. Didn’t you go through a lot of trouble because of me? I will no longer let you be lonely.”
“G-Grid…?” Khan was very confused when I said these strange words. “Surely you aren’t…? Are you planning to jump into the river after making a low rated sword? Huh?”
Was it because he already lost a son? I stopped his desperate shouting by showing him the sword.
“How can I do that? Now take a look at this.”
“Heok!” Khan trembled. “This… this is a masterpiece…! C-Cough!”
“H-Hey! Old Man Khan! Old Man Khan!!”
He was too surprised! Khan collapsed in pain as he struggled to breathe.
“No! Don’t die! You can’t die!!”
Khan was the one who gave me my class quest. I hadn’t even started the quest yet. It would probably take me a very long time to clear this quest. Until then, Khan needed to be alive.
“Shit!”
I lifted Khan. Then I rushed him towards the clinic. After a while, the doctor finished the examination and laughed. “You don’t have to worry. It is just a symptom of temporary shock, and he will have no problems in the future.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. You can rest assured and stop crying.”
“W-What? Who is crying?”
The doctor just smiled silently after hearing my words.
“Kuk…!”
I exited the clinic in shame and ran towards the castle.
“Dammit! What nonsense was he saying? I was crying? Hah. Crazy! Who would cry because of an NPC!”
I was filled with confidence because my inventory contained two epic-rated swords and one legendary-rated sword.
***
Winston Castle.
The 1,000 soldiers and 8 knights were defeated by the Yatan Temple and returned. There were close to 400 casualties. Irene couldn’t believe it. “How did this happen? I heard that there are only 150 enemies. The followers of Yatan are strong, but isn’t this defeat nonsense?”
Irene’s knight captain, Phoenix explained with a sad expression. “According to the report, there is a great person among the Yatan followers. Even the knights weren’t a match…”
“Don’t tell me…?”
Phoenix re
ad the question in Irene’s eyes and nodded.
“That’s correct. Perhaps he…no, she is one of the rumored ‘Seven Servants.’
It was said that the Yatan Church had seven servants. They were those who received the favor of God Yatan and were powerful being that transcended humans.
“How could such a great person be here…?”
The nobles at the meeting were frightened and scared.
“If one of the Seven Servants is present, Winston might turn to hell!”
“We should reach out to Earl Steim right now…!”
In contrast, Irene was calm. She ignored the nobles and spoke to Phoenix.
“Many the rumors about the Seven Servants are exaggerated. Isn’t it? If the Seven Servants are really as strong as rumored, the temples wouldn’t have been wiped out.”
Phoenix agreed.
“Yes. The Seven Servants aren’t as strong as everyone thinks.”
Irene touched the blue ring. “It would be a massive blow to the Yatan Church if we kill one of the Seven Servants with our own hands. It will also honor Doran’s soul.”
“What…?”
The nobles tried to protest Irene’s decision to fight against one of the Seven Species. At that time, the door of the conference room opened and the butler ran into the room.
“Administrator! Lady! There is something that both of you should look at!”
How urgent would it be to interrupt the meeting between the lady and the nobles? Everyone in the conference room hurriedly got up from their seats. Then they followed the butler.
The castle’s garden. There was a black haired youth standing in front of the glittering fountain. He was looking at the fountain with very serious eyes. Then he suddenly dived into the fountain, like a cat pouncing.
“…Who is that? What is he doing?”
The administrator replied to Irene’s question, “That young man is the blacksmith Grid, who created the best works displayed at the auction. However, I don’t know what he is doing now. Why is he swimming in the fountain?”
The administrator turned towards the butler, who looked perplexed. “I tried to guide him to the reception room, but he stayed here because he wanted to see more of the garden. That is all I know. I don’t know why he’s swimming in the fountain.”
Then the young man emerged from the water.
“Puah! It really is money!” He was holding a one gold coin in his hand. He joyfully kissed the gold coin without worrying about his wet body. Then he became tearful. “I never thought I would ever pick up money…! Kuuack! This is my first lucky experience in my 26 years of living!”
Phoenix watched him and frowned. “That… I think it is the gold coin I lost a few days ago…”
“……”
Irene ignored Phoenix and asked the butler, “So why did you bring us so urgently?”
The butler took a deep breath. Then he opened his mouth carefully.
“He said he came to deliver three swords to the administrator. But… the level of the swords is unbelievable, even to the eyes of a lowly person like me. My Lady, you should check it yourself… Cough, I’m sorry. I became so excited that I rudely broke into the meeting. I will accept any punishment.”
“Hrmm…”
The butler said he was a lowly person, but he needed to be versatile to become the butler of this castle. His eyes were superb. In addition, he was always calm. How great were the three swords to make a person like him so excited?
Everyone walked up to Grid with great expectations. Grid discovered the party and greeted the administrator. “Good afternoon.”
The administrator greeted Grid. “It is polite to greet the lady first.”
“Lady?” Grid looked at the party and found Irene.
‘I heard that the new lady was a young and pretty virgin.’
Then Grid bowed to Irene and said, “It is an honor to meet you.”
“It is nice to meet you.”
The residents of Winston said that Grid worked hard for the people. Irene was scheduled to give Grid a reward. However, she postponed it after discovering the Yatan Temple. Irene wanted to finish it well. Therefore, she planned to give him the reward when she saw him today.
But she completely forgot about rewarding Grid when she saw his swords. She was so surprised that she couldn’t think about small things. Why was she surprised? It was…
“These are the three swords I made.”
“…Heok!”
Everyone was surprised when Grid pulled out three swords. The butler was still surprised, despite checking it first.
The swords created by Grid were that great. Two of the three swords were unusual. But the remaining sword was at a level that couldn’t be compared.
Phoenix shouted. “This is a sword that will come out once in 100 years!”
Chapter 62
Chapter 62
While all of them were murmuring with amazement, Grid approached the administrator and asked, “How much will this be worth? Didn’t you say it before? If I make good items then you will pay a higher price!”
“U-Ummm… That…that…”
The administrator couldn’t answer, the value of this work was just too high! He would have to decide on purchasing and pricing decisions only after discussing it with the lady.
However, Irene had already made up her mind.
“Sir Phoenix.”
“Yes, My Liege.”
“If you have this sword, will you be able to take care of one of the Seven Servants?”
Phoenix compared the testimonies from the defeated soldiers and compared it to his ability. He thought carefully before answering.
“I think I can fight. No, I am a little bit stronger. Of course, that is if I am using this sword.”
This wasn’t overconfidence. Phoenix was one of the strongest knights in the north, and among the top 10 in the entire Eternal Kingdom. Irene smiled at his dependable answer.
“Okay. Administrator! Buy this sword! I will leave the price up to you.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Grid liked Irene.
‘Her words are big. As expected, a noble is different.’
How much would he get for it? Grid was filled with expectations.
“Let’s go to my office.”
“Yes. Then, My Lady, I will be leaving first.”
“I’ll see you again, Grid.”
Irene held out a held to Grid. It meant to kiss the back of her hand, which was the highest honor a noblewoman could bestow on someone. Irene felt respect towards Grid after witnessing his blacksmithing skills.
‘Huh?’ Grid noticed a blue ring on Irene’s necklace as he kissed her hand. ‘Where have I seen it before?’
Grid tried to remember but he couldn’t think of anything.
‘It must just be the ring design.’
After Irene’s party left, Grid heading towards the administrator’s office.
“Sit down for a moment while I figure out the purchase price. It might take some time, so please understand.”
“Yes, please take your time.”
The administrator sat on one side of Grid and started to move the abacus. It seemed like the calculations were fairly complicated as he had a troubled expression on his face. Grid had drunk exactly eight cups of warm tea and was feeling sleepy by the time the administrator finished the calculations. He announced the price,
“Um… the ‘Anticipated Sword’ will be bought for 7,000 gold, and I will buy the ‘Sword of Self-transcendence’ for 200,000 gold.”
The sleepy Grid was sincerely offended,
“Are you kidding me? You want to buy the Sword of Self-transcendence for 20 gold? No, the other swords are 7,000 gold, so why is the Sword of Self-transcendence 20 gold? This is really ridiculous… I used 950 gold worth of materials to make this sword!”
The administrator was embarrassed as he said, “No, I think you heard me incorrectly.. I said 200,000 gold, not 20 gold.”
“200,000 gold?”
/>
“That’s right.”
“……?”
Grid’s heart stopped for a moment. After a few moments, he exclaimed, “Huu…huuk…huuuck! … 200,000 gold? Are you serious?”
Grid could barely breathe as he asked the question.
The administrator asked him carefully.
“Do you think the amount is too low…? This is the highest value, even more than the heirlooms passed on in Earl Steim’s family for generations… Do you still think it is too little? Uhh… I am willing to pay 20,000 gold more but any more than that is impossible because it will cause a serious blow to our financial situation. Please understand.”
Winston currently boasted a population of 330,000 and a growth rate of 22% a year, with an operating budget of 170,000 gold. The value of the Sword of Self-transcendence was so higher that it exceeded Winston’s annual operating budget.
The administrator tried to persuade Grid. “Once again, this is the highest value I can offer, and it will become an heirloom of Earl Steim’s family. It is very difficult if you aren’t satisfied with this amount. It would be hard to find a noble or merchant offering a higher price.”
“……”
Grid couldn’t say anything. The administrator was deeply concerned. He thought that Grid didn’t like the amount he presented. However, he was mistaken. Grid was thrilled beyond satisfaction.
‘The many misfortunes I suffered in my 26 years of life is all for this one lucky moment!’
220,000 gold was 264 million won.
‘After paying back my debt, I will have 254 million won left!’
Grid wanted to complete the transaction and log out right away. Then I would go to Mother’s Heart is Happy and pay off my 10 million won debt. He wanted to yell.
“That’s it! Is this okay? I paid back the money so don’t call me anymore! You money-grubbing jerks!”
This was what he wanted to yell. Then he would buy a foreign car and luxury clothes. In a month, he would attend his high school reunion.
‘I will appear in luxury clothes and a foreign car.’
Grid, who was just a debt-ridden game lover, had always been disregarded by the other alumni. Whenever he attended a reunion, he was always ashamed by their ridiculing words. So he didn’t attend the last reunion, despite it being the only place he could meet his first love, Ahyoung.